held up towards rear, good headway out wide chasing leaders before 3 out, close 2nd next, soon ridden, well held when mistake and weakened last
raced wide, chased leaders, ridden weakened quickly and pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
raced wide, chased leaders, tracked leader 3rd until weakened quickly before 3 out, pulled up soon after
chased leaders on inside, pushed along before 3 out, only 5th and plenty to do last, stayed on strongly into 3rd run-in, almost snatched 2nd, no chance with winner
on his toes, raced keenly, led until headed 3 out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened quickly before next
waited with towards rear, smooth headway tracking leaders after 4 out, 2nd travelling well before led next, mistake and headed 2 out, soon no extra in 3rd, weakened into 4th and mistake last
chased leader until 3rd, chased leaders, mistakes 4 out and next, weakened soon after, tailed off when went left 2 out, pulled up before last
mid-division, closer tracking leaders 7th, weakened next, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
patiently ridden in rear, headway out wide before 2 out, went 2nd 2 out, soon ridden and no chance with winner, just held on for 2nd
mid-division on inside, mistake 4 out, headway chasing leaders when switched right before 3 out, close 2nd and dived at 3 out, led next, clear before last, stayed on strongly
towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
NonRunner
This looks wide open but Exploiteur is more exposed than most having been a regular in handicaps and there is a suspicion that 3m tests his stamina. Emir Sacree made an impressive UK debut at Ascot when beating Castle Robin and should be capable of better. Pats Fancy and Ask A Honey Bee placed behind Make Good in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham last month but fifth ASHTOWN LAD ran as though something was amiss that day and may well turn the tables having previously impressed at Wetherby and Uttoxeter when showing himself to be well suited by a soft surface. Bobhopeornohope is 2-2 over timber and won over 3m between the flags with the step up in distance also likely to suit Flash Collonges. Fern Hill is another likely to be in the firing-line if he stays but The Cob has a bit to prove having been well beaten at Newbury when on a hat-trick.
Shang Tang (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Slight lead until 2nd, remained prominent, pushed along and weakened quickly when pulled up before 2 out, at Kempton 2m 5f hcp lst (1) sft in Jan.
Ashtown Lad (IRE) 6-4fav (10-12) Held up in touch in mid-division, closed before 6th, switched right before normal 2 out, ridden approaching omitted last, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 18 3/4l behind Make Good (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Ask A Honey Bee (IRE) 9-4 (10-12) Chased leaders, led after normal 2 out, ridden and headed before omitted last, lost 2nd flat, kept on, 3rd of 8, 8 1/2l behind Make Good (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Bobhopeornohope (IRE) Evensfav (11-5) Led, shaken up before 3 out to extend lead, not fluent last and almost headed, ran on under pressure final 110 yards, just held on, won at Doncaster 2m 5f (4) gd in Nov beating Santon (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Castle Robin (IRE) 18-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, dived and stumbled 6th, led on long run after 3 out, 2 out, headed before next and lost 2nd, chased leaders, ridden and weakened between last 2, 6th of 20, 11 3/4l behind Boreham Bill (11-0) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp lst (1) sft in Jan.
Emir Sacree (FR) 11-1 (11-7) Made all, narrow advantage when ridden after 2 out, hung left under pressure from last, stayed on strongly, won at Ascot 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Castle Robin (11-8) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Exploiteur (FR) 16-5 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway after 8th, every chance after 2 out, held last, kept on flat, 3rd of 12, 4 1/2l behind Storm Arising (11-5) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Fern Hill (IRE) 13-8 (11-4) Led, pushed along after 3f out, headed approaching last, stayed on and led again towards finish, won at Wetherby 2m 5f (4) sft in Dec beating Witness Protection (11-4) by hd, 11 ran.
Pats Fancy (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) In touch in mid-division, closed before normal 2 out, went 2nd flat, kept on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Make Good (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Portstorm 4-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, steadied rear, closer in 4th place 4 out (normal 5 out), outpaced before omitted 3 out, stayed on into 2nd between last 2, upsides last, led run-in, stayed on well, won at Ayr 2m 5f (4) hvy in Dec beating Ugo Du Misselot (10-12) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
The Cob (IRE) 9-4fav (10-3) Chased leaders on outside, not fluent 3rd, closed next, ridden 3 out, jumped right and beaten next, left 3rd last, 3rd of 5, 15 3/4l behind Calva D'Auge (10-10) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Took The Lot 12-1 (10-12) Led, slow 4th, soon headed, led after next, hit 2 out, soon headed and weakened, last of 8, dist behind Make Good (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Flash Collonges (FR) 7-4 (11-8) Tracked leaders, headway to press leader after 3 out, led 2 out, went clear before last, hung badly left on run-in but always in full command, won at Wincanton 2m 5f (4) gs in Jan beating Malinello (11-8) by 8 1/2l, 15 ran.
